Gabby Giffords Set to Appear at Jared Loughner’s Sentencing

On Thursday morning 24-year-old Jared Loughner will be sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting six people and wounding thirteen others. Loughner took a plea deal in August that allowed him to avoid the death penalty. At the sentencing hearing, Loughner will be confronted by victims of the shooting for the first time. A source says former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords plans to be in court, and her husband Mark Kelly will speak on behalf of the family. Three other shooting victims say they’ll make statements as well. Loughner has been in a prison medical facility for more than a year, and it’s unclear if he’ll remain there or be sent to a federalprison.